(1) The feasibility of establishing common regional
configurations for local workforce investment areas, regional
educational service agencies and for all other purposes the
Commission considers feasible. The study should review the
existing levels of cooperation between state and local economic
developers, complete an analysis of possible regional
configurations and outline examples of other successful regional
systems or networks found throughout the world. If the study
determines that the common regional configurations are feasible,
the Commission shall recommend legislation establishing common
regional designations for all feasible purposes. In making the
designation of regional areas, the study shall take into
consideration, but not be limited to, the following:

(A) Geographic areas served by local educational agencies and
intermediate educational agencies;

(B) Geographic areas served by post-secondary educational
institutions and area vocational education schools;

(C) The extent to which the local areas are consistent with
labor market areas;

(D) The distance that individuals will need to travel to
receive services provided in the local areas; and

(E) The resources of the local areas that are available to effectively administer the activities or programs;

(2) The effectiveness and fiscal impact of incentives for
attracting and growing businesses, especially technology-intensive
companies; and

(3) A comprehensive review of West Virginia's existing
economic and community development resources and the recommendation
of an organizational structure, including, but not limited to, the
reorganization of the Department of Commerce and the Development
Office that would allow the state to successfully compete in the
new global economy.

(b) In order to effectuate in the most cost-effective and
efficient manner the studies required in this article, it is
necessary for the Joint Commission to assemble and compile a
tremendous amount of information. The Development Office will
assist the Joint Commission in the collection and analysis of this
information. The Tourism Commission established pursuant to
article two of this chapter, the Economic Development Authority
established pursuant to article fifteen, chapter thirty-one of this
code, the Bureau of Employment Programs established pursuant to
article four, chapter twenty-one-a of this code, the Workers'
Compensation Commission established pursuant to article one,
chapter twenty-three of this code, the Workforce Investment
Commission established pursuant to article two-c of this chapter,
West Virginia Jobs Investment Trust, Regional Planning and
Development Councils, West Virginia Rural Development Council, Office of Technology and West Virginia Clearinghouse for Workforce
Education shall provide a copy of their annual reports as submitted
to the Governor in accordance with the requirements set forth in
section twenty, article one, chapter five of this code to the West
Virginia Development Office. The Development Office shall review,
analyze and summarize the data contained in the reports, including
its own annual report, and annually submit its findings to the
Joint Commission on or before the thirty-first day of December.

(c) The Legislative Auditor shall provide to the Joint
Commission a copy of any and all reports on agencies listed in
subsection (b) of this section, which are required under article
ten, chapter four of this code.

(d) The Joint Commission shall complete the studies set forth
in this section and any other studies the Joint Commission
determines to undertake prior to the first day of December of each
year and may make recommendations, including recommended
legislation for introduction during the regular session of the

Legislature.

Note: WV Code updated with legislation passed through the 2014 1st Special Session
The WV Code Online is an unofficial copy of the annotated WV Code, provided as a convenience. It has NOT been edited for publication, and is not in any way official or authoritative.